Indian cabinet approves plans to double capacity of large PV projects to 40,000 MW

India wants to double the capacity of large-scale PV power plants (Photo: juwi)

The India Government has approved a plan to double the nation capacity of the Scheme for Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects from 20,000 to 40,000 MW.

Indian power minister Piyush Goyal said on February, 22nd, the Indian Cabinet has approved an investment of Rs 8,100 crore (about 1.15 billion Euros) to enhance the installation of at least 50 solar parks and ultra mega solar power projects. The investment would double the solar power production target to 40,000 MW. The decision is part of the national plan to achieve a solar power capacity of 100,000 MW by 2022.

The cabinet decision will promote the installation of at least 50 solar parks with a capacity of 500 MW each by 2020. In states where topography does not allow for large-scale solar parks like e.g. in Himalaya, solar parks smaller than 500 MW will also be entitled to benefit from the scheme.

Under the direction of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the scheme will be administered by the Solar Energy Corporation India (SECI), who will also release the approved grant. In the process state governments will first nominate solar power park developers (SPPD) and select the areas for the proposed solar park. The solar parks will be developed in collaboration with state governments and the union territories.

Of the earlier decision to develop solar parks of 20,000 MW, 24 projects have been approved and are at various stages of development.

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